Rucci slams cash-hungry AFL for letting Crows take the blame in Adelaide Oval Shield Final saga

UPDATE

SEN SA The Run Home host Michelangelo Rucci has taken aim at the AFL for stopping the Sheffield Shield FInal from being played at the Adelaide Oval.

Rucci believes that AFL and South Australian government have allowed the Adelaide Crows to look like the 'bad guy' in this PR disaster, a line of thought that simply doesn't line up with the facts at play.

"The Sheffield Shield final debacle is settled - South Australia will host at Karen Rolton Oval and not the game's spiritual home at Adelaide Oval," Rucci said.

"But before the dust settles on is saga, let's make sure it does not cover up another PR disaster from AFL House and leave a stain on the Adelaide Football Club that is becoming painted as the bad guy in all this.

"No Shield final at the Oval leaves SA Premier Peter Malinaukas without his moment on the hill reliving his childhood memories. Now we all love 'Mali' for the way he brings the circus to town. He certainly is more vibrant and enterprising than his predecessor Steve Marshall.

"But this moment on radio 5AA breakfast was not his finest moment."

"Mmmm, the honest answer of that is yes (someone wanted money to have the Shield Final moved to the Adelaide Oval), and it wasn't cricket," Malinausakas said.

"I won't say what entity it is in footy ... and what I would say is where asking for people to act rationally and pragmatically in the interest of fans.

"The South Australian government has already shown an awful lot of support to both footy clubs locally, particularly the Adelaide Football Club, which has done very well from the support that we've provided them to be able to see through the issues at Thebarton.

"We've backed them in every step of the way. I've got to say I think it's a little bit galling that people are trying to use an opportunity to look after fans as an opportunity to slug the taxpayer, and I won't be having it.

"There are there are two equations. There's mitigating risk, which we appreciate that might be something the government can't contemplate, but just handing over cash is not something that I'll be doing and I hope this doesn't get in the way of it, because if it does, I'll be on your program speaking very publicly about that approach that's being applied.

"Well, like I said, I'm not naming any names here or anything like that. I'm just saying that my government isn't going to be giving cash just so that they get out of the way of something that everyone thinks should happen."

"5AA host David Penberthy makes the accusation that the Crows held access to the Oval to ransom.

"The Premier did nothing to correct him. In fact he smeared the Crows by mentioning all the money he has given them at Thebarton. Not his money, but our money as taxpayers.

"And he did go through with his threat to expose the cash grab that came in the negotiations to play the Shield final at the Oval in the week the Crows will prepare to host North Melbourne.

"Well, let's put this in the truth chamber.

"The Crows simply asked for assurances on the safety of its players.

"It was the AFL that sought cash - and not for the Adelaide Football Club or the sideshow winners Port Adelaide by getting cash back on the Footy Express bus service.

"The AFL wanted cash back from the levy it pays for the Footy Express during Gather Round.

"Now is this galling or opportunistic? It certainly is galling that the AFL has created a situation that leaves the Crows appearing as bad guys.

"It is galling the Premier did not expose his mates at AFL House thereby allowing Penberthy to wreck the Adelaide Football Club's standing as the innocent bystander in a cash grab from football headquarters in Melbourne.

"This has not been a fine chapter for Andrew Dillon as AFL chief executive, Peter Malinaukas as Premier and those - like Penberthy - who assumed only the Crows would seek to gain from this scheduling mess.

"We repeat - the AFL went after a refund on the Footy Express during Gather Round.

"Some apologies are in order."

Listen to Rucci's full take on the saga here.

EARLIER

The AFL has stepped in to prevent the 2025 Sheffield Shield Final from being played at the Adelaide Oval.

South Australia’s first home final in nine years will coincide with the start of the new AFL season, throwing the plans of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) into chaos.

Ultimately the AFL's concerns over surface transformation and condition took precedence and the final will now be played at Karen Rolton Oval.

“Disappointed South Australia has been prevented from hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenburg said in a statement.

“The Sheffield Shield final is a significant event for Australia’s national sport, and we believe Adelaide Oval would have been the most appropriate venue.

“I would like to thank Premier Malinauskas for his advocacy in this matter and his passionate support of cricket and the South Australia Cricket Association which made an extremely compelling case to host the final at Adelaide Oval.

“March is a very important month for cricket including the Sheffield Shield and Premier and club cricket finals.

“We will continue to work collaboratively at all levels to ensure cricket gains and provides appropriate access to shared venues across the country.”